Table 3.

Mothers’ reasons for starting the reported supplementation

Type of supplement and main reasons*	Frequency
Liquid (water, sugar water, tea) alone	17
Hot Weather: “it was very hot”; “his lips were dry after feeding”	6
Cultural beliefs: “breast milk is hot and it's a meal! Water must be added”; “breast milk is hot! Water must be added for proper digestion”; “Water is life! the child must take water”; “He was having hiccups”	6
I thought I did not have enough milk	5
Formula	12
I thought I did not have enough milk	5
My baby was crying all the time	9
My baby was sucking all the time and it was difficult	4
The baby's father wanted it added to human milk	2
The grandmother of the baby wanted it added to human milk	2
Other	3
Porridge
I thought I did not have enough milk	1
My baby was crying all the time	5
My baby was sucking all the time and it was difficult	2
The baby's father wanted it added to human milk	0
The grandmother of the baby wanted it added to human milk	2
Other	3

Responses were elicited with the following question: Why did you decide to add (name the addition) to breast milk? Response options were provided and selection of more than one reason was allowed. Option other was provided for participant to specify reason that were not provided in the options.